These cytokines constitute a critical “inflammatory microenvironment” that accelerates the progression from precancerous lesions (leukoplakia) to malignant tumors (OSCC), delineating a distinct “inflammation-to-cancer” pathway: various stimuli induce chronic inflammation in the oral mucosa, leading to elevated levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and other factors that disrupt immune homeostasis. Here, TNF is linked to leukoplakia.